Camp Ford

by Johnny D. Boggs

Book Overview

During the 1946 World Series, 99 years old Win McNaughton recalls the greatest baseball game of his life, between Union prisoners of war and their Confederate camp guards during the Civil War. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0843958383
• ISBN13: 9780843958386
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Leisure Books
• Length: 294 Pages
• Weight: 0.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

CAMP FORD by Johnny D. Boggs

Win MacNaughton is an aging--99 years old--former baseball player, umpire, and coach, who is invited to attend the 1946 World Series by The Sporting News. A reporter asks him how he thinks the two participating teams--the Red Sox and the Cardinals--compare to the best team he has ever seen. Win doesn't hesitate, and quickly names two teams. "`Easy' I said. "Mr. Lincoln's Hirelings and the Ford City Gallinippers. Played one game at Camp Ford, Texas." The reporter gave Win a confused look and walked away. He didn't mention either of the teams in the newspaper the next day, and Win MacNaughton spends the rest of Johnny D. Boggs' CAMP FORD explaining his answer. He begins his story as a boy in Rhode Island where he is introduced to the game that would shape his life. His moves with his parents down to Jacksboro, Texas, where his father gets involved with the anti-slavery movement, and then when the Civil War breaks out, his parents take him back North where, in 1863 he joins the 3rd Rhode Island Cavalry. It isn't long before Win finds himself a prisoner of war at Camp Ford, Texas. And life in that place is hard, cruel, and surprisingly filled with talk and love of baseball--even the Southerners are learning the game. CAMP FORD won the Spur Award for best novel in 2005, and it is the best Western novel I have read in a long time. Mr. Boggs adroitly weaves two storylines--the aged Win MacNaughton watching the 1946 World Series in St. Louis, and Win MacNaughton as a boy growing up in a changing and violent time with the new game of baseball. The prisoner of war scenes are harsh and realistic with vivid descriptions of the place, the characters, and, most importantly, the inner thoughts of MacNaughton as he tries to survive captivity. The characters are richly created--they populate the novel with a sincerity and richness that is often lacking in genre works. The ideals of friendship, love, and hate are explored, and Mr. Boggs leaves just enough ambiguity in the narrative to allow the reader to judge the actions of the characters. The storyline is refreshing and original--it has just the right mixture of baseball folklore and Civil War history to satisfy both readers of historical fiction, and anyone who enjoys the sport. -Gravetapping

Great book about prison life and base ball during the Civil War

This is an excellent story revolving around Camp Ford, a confederate prison. Lots of reference to early base ball. Very well written and an enjoyable story.

Easy read/Great value!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and I didn't want it to end. It was an excellent mix of Civil War and Baseball history with great characters. Highly recommended.

War and baseball do mix

This is a very interesting book - a different kind of western. It takes place in Texas (mostly), in a Confederate prison camp during the Civil War. For the baseball adict it is an accurate picture of the early forms of the game. For the Civil War Buff it provides some interesting incite not connected to a major battle. It is about Prison life at its worst and baseball at its best. It is the tale of a most interesting baseball game as told by a 99 year old veteran of the war. An easy read but an engaging story.

A REMARKABLE CIVIL WAR STORY!!!

During the 1946 World Series, a 99 year old timer was asked to relate the tale of the greatest baseball game played in his life time. Thus begins the remarkable story of Winthrop( Win) MacNaughton. In 1858 Win's father Henry became more obsessed with his Abolitionist activities than baseball that he sells his drug store in Newport, Rhode Island and moves his family to Jacksboro, Texas. Henry purchases two slaves and sets them free. Eventually this act leads him to return to Rhode Island. Henry decides he can best serve his Abolishionist ideals by joining the Union Army. Once again in Newport, Win goes back to his beloved baseball. He discovers the game has changed some what from the way he played it before leaving for Texas. Outside a small town in Pennsylvania, on July 3rd, 1863, Win's father is killed at the Battle of Gettysburg. This event will alter Win's life as he decides to follow in his fathers foot steps and join the Union Army. Win enlists in the 3rd Rhode Island Calvary. His unit gets their first assignment of the war in the Red River Campaign. At the battle of Sabine Crossroads, Win and his comrades are routed and are sent fleeing. Winthrop is captured and begins the long march to Texas and Camp Ford. At the outskirts of the prison stackade, Win attemps to escape but is re-captured by Pig Oliver, a former baseball team mate from his early days in Texas. Life in Camp Ford is difficult. Next to survival, escape occupies the thoughts of the prisoners in the harsh enviroment they find them selves in. One lesson learned early about an escape attempt. Becareful who you tell your plans to. The comrade who's life you save in battle may one day turn traitor and inform on you. Win's CO, Captain Conall McGee comes up with a plan to divert the guards attention that may allow some prisoner a chance to escape. That is how a baseball game between Mr. Lincoln's Hirlings and the Righteous Club of Lieutenant Colonel Ruben Sweet's Texas Battalion of Guards, Confederate States of America came to be played. Winning the baseball game rather than escaping Camp Ford soon became paramount to the Union prisoners. The Rebel commander and his team will use every means at their disposal to see that Mr. Lincoln's Hirelings lose this game. Johnny D. Boggs gives us a remarkable, well crafted and exciting story. CAMP FORD will appeal to baseball fans, Civil War buffs and western fans alike.